The Water Element – Vital Resource
“Wisdom is the virtue that empowers us to stand firmly in the face of the unknown and chart a steady course through uncertain waters.” – Lonnie Jarrett The final phase of the life cycle, the element of winter when resources are stored, in Traditional Chinese this is the water element. This is part of a […]
Homemade Dog Food per Chinese Medicine
Chances are that we will never buy another bag of commercial dog food again! We have tried them all. Well, our fur baby has tried them all. And most of them sit in her bowl all day because she prefers to eat what we are eating. And, frankly, it is easier to feed her what […]
Tradition Chinese Veterinary Medicine
My little son was 2 when his father plopped him down on the floor with a litter of the cutest little Jack Russel Terrier puppies and told him he could take one home. This would be a “surprise” to me. hmmm As my ds tells it, all the little puppies were cute, but he immediately […]
Fennel Congee Tea
Congee is a slow-cooked rice porridge used in Chinese culture and medicine as a healing food… and it is also known as “breakfast”. 🙂 Slow cooked rice is easily digested and serves as a vehicle for any other nutrients cooked with it. Rice is used in this way to increase bioavailablity for the other foods. […]
Metal – Precious and Refined
[pinterest] In one of Barbara Kingsolver’s books, she proposes the idea of requiring all culinary students to make colorful cut-outs of asparagus in the spring, and apples in the fall, just as school children create paper snowflakes in January. The purpose would be to teach the value of eating produce in its season, when it […]
Super food! Simple food! Longevity food? Congee
[pinterest] Bama Yao County, in the Guangxi region of Southeast China, is well-known for the longevity of its citizens. This remote mountainous region boasts an unusually high ratio of centenarians, including those who continue living decades over 100! And they have maintained this status over time. While other notable societies of centenarians have seen declines, […]
Earth – a time of transformation
Late summer harvest belongs to the Earth element. This is a time of transition from summer to fall, and a time of transformation. Soon the bright colors of summer will fade and we will go into our storehouses to prepare for a slower pace. There is often a stillness and we begin to settle in… […]
Fire – The Element of Summer
The warmth of a fire attracts us, draws us in, and brings people together. It creates moments of joy, especially at an outdoor gathering of friends. One cannot help but move toward it to be soothed by the glow that emanates from it’s embers. It can capture our attention in a way that leaves us […]
The Elements (Phases) of TCM
It almost seems wrong to take millenniums of study of sages and physicians and sum any portion of it up into a short blog. But we live in a fast-paced society with a modern structure. Still, we want the best for our families! We need to operate at our highest, best, and healthiest level. So, […]
Black Fungus Congee
[pinterest] Could bf be your new bff? As promised, this post includes a savory congee recipe, using beautiful black fungus, a.k.a. wood ear, tree ear, cloud ear, or Judas ear. While the name may not make you salivate, knowing uses for this marvelous ingredient may give you a beneficial addition to many dishes. Black fungus […]